Mi'kmaw History Month celebrates role of food, community

Food is central to Mercedes Peters.

"I don't think I've ever gone to visit a family member or a friend or an elder without food being a part of the visit," said Peters, the Sharing Our Stories co-ordinator at the Mi'kmawey Debert Cultural Centre. "I haven't gone to any important event where food has not been a part of it."

But Peters said she really hadn't paid attention to how important food was to her until she started working on this year's Mi'kmaw History Month poster theme — Mijipjewey Na Mawa'luksi'k, or Food Gathers us Together.

In a world where just about anything can be bought at the grocery story, Peters said it makes her reflect on where food comes from and the practices that allow her to access it.

"Our fishing, our hunting, our harvesting, there are a whole bunch of different responsibilities that come with that," she said. "But those responsibilities are about keeping our relationship to the land and the earth and how that also nourishes our bodies."

As part of her role with the Debert centre, Peters helped generate ideas for the poster, which was illustrated by Gerald Gloade. 

'Welcoming people in'

The Mi'kmaw History Month Committee selected the theme last year and Peters, along with others at the cultural centre and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, began the creative process in January.

Geordy Marshall is a community leader in Eskasoni First Nation and the language specialist at the Debert centre. Marshall can relate to the theme.

"My grandmother would cook so much food," Marshall said. "She was always welcoming people in."

As part of the development of the poster, knowledge carriers, elders and educators were asked what they wanted to see depicted.

History of Mi'kmaw History Month

The Mi'kmaq History Month Committee organizes events every October to celebrate and raise awareness about Mi'kmaw culture, history and heritage. The tradition dates back to 1993.

But way before then, the Treaty of 1752 established, among other things, that on Oct. 1 each year, the Mi'kmaq would receive gifts of "blankets, tobacco, some powder and shott" from the Crown to "renew their friendship."

Peters said the month of October also holds significance for this year's theme because it is recognized as the time for fattening animals.